Women’s Hockey: Jesse Compher dealing with lingering lower-body injury

By: Patrick Donnelly

Junior forward and first line center Jesse Compher did not suit up for the Terriers during Sunday afternoon’s season opener at Union, a 2-1 victory over the Dutchwomen. Compher had been practicing with the team, but her status heading into Sunday’s contest remained unclear. Head coach Brian Durocher provided an update on the star center’s health following the game.

“[Jesse’s] just dealing with a nagging lower-body injury,” Durocher said. “She had been able to practice and play, for the most part, but this week it kind of went in the wrong direction; so, she’s got some soreness there.”

“If this was a playoff game or a Beanpot game, she would have been playing, but cooler heads prevailed today as we were able to get out with the win, and she was able to get a couple more days of rest,” Durocher continued. “Not too many championships are going to be won on the first game of the year, so hopefully it’ll turn out to be a win-win.”

Compher paced the Terriers in production last season, posting 17 goals and 44 assists for 61 points (third in the nation). The playmaking center finished in the top-10 in voting for the Patty Kazmaier Award, annually given to the best Division I women’s player.

The Second Team All-American and unanimous Hockey East First Team All-Star makes up one half of one of the nation’s deadliest offensive duos with redshirt senior captain Sammy Davis. Compher posted nine goals and 17 assists as a freshman during the 2017-18 campaign.